"Connecting to Our Users in Sci-Tech and Engineering Libraries"
Tuesday June 17, 3:15-4:45 PM
Convention Center 304

Table of Contents
Introduction
Acknowledgements

PDF Document

Additional Bibliography

PDF Document

Outreach to Scientists and Engineers at the Hanford Technical Library

Karen A. Buxton
Hanford Technical Library, Richland, WA (karen.buxton@pnl.gov)

Abstract

Full Text: PDF Document

Slide Presentation: PDF Document

Staff at the Hanford Technical Library have developed a suite of programs designed to help busy researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) make better use of library products and services. Programs include formal training classes, one-on-one consultations, and targeted email messages announcing new materials to researchers in specific fields.

A staple of outreach has been to teach classes to library clients covering research tools in their fields. These classes started out in the library classroom and then expanded to other venues around PNNL. Class surveys indicated that many researchers desired a practical approach to learning rather than the traditional lecture format. The library instituted “Library Learning Day” and hosted classes in the PNNL computer training room to provide lab employees with a hands-on learning experience. Classes are generally offered at noon and lab staff attends classes on their lunch hour. Many just do not have time to spend a full hour in training. Library staff added some experimental half-hour mini classes in campus buildings geared to the projects and interests of researchers there to see if this format was more appealing. As other programs have developed librarians are teaching fewer classes but average attendance figures has remained fairly stable from 2005-2007.In summer of 2004 the library began the Traveling Librarian program. Librarians call-on groups and individuals in 24 buildings on the Richland Washington campus. Five full-time and two part-time librarians are involved in the program. Librarians usually send out email announcements prior to visits and encourage scientists and engineers to make appointments for a brief 15 minute consultation in the researcher’s own office. During the meeting lab staff learn about products or product features that can help them work more productively. Librarians also make cold calls to staff that do not request a consultation and may not be making full use of the library. Scientists and engineers who require longer sessions can arrange half-hour training appointments in the researcher’s own office or at the library. Since the program was implemented staff made 165 visits to 1249 laboratory staff including some repeat consultation requests.

New acquisitions lists are sent to individuals and groups that would be interested in recent journal, database, and books purchases. These lists are topic specific and targeted to groups and individuals with an interest in the field. For example newly acquired engineering resources are targeted at engineering groups. The new acquisitions list for engineering began mid year in 2005. An analysis of circulation statistics for engineering books in fiscal year 2005, 2006, and 2007 show that circulation increased each year with 2007 circulation nearly double that of 2005. This took place when overall circulation rose in FY06 but fell slightly in FY07.

Outreach strategies tailored and individualized can be effective. Offering multiple outreach options offers researchers different ways to interact with library staff and services.

If The Library Brand is “Books,” Why Not Read a Few? – Bringing Nonfiction Book Discussion to the Special Library

Scott Curtis, Head of Reference (curtiss@lindahall.org)
Jenny Bruenger, Education Program Coordinator & Reference Librarian
Michelle Lahey, Reference Librarian
Eric Ward, Head of Marketing & Reference Librarian
Linda Hall Library, Kansas City, MO

Abstract

Full Text: PDF Document

Slide Presentation: available after the conference

The Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering, and Technology instituted two book discussion programs during 2007. We modeled the first program on the highly-successful One Book community reading programs, where the goal of the library is to get a wide spectrum of the public to read a single title and gather for events related to the book. The second program, named “The Periodic Roundtable”  (pun intended), had two roles to fill: the traditional book discussion for those who would read the book prior to attending, married with a librarian-moderated “book talk” style to encourage attendees who had not read the book to do so. Librarians selected books written for a non-specialist audience that addressed topics of compelling societal interest. When possible, book discussions involved collaborations with other libraries and cultural institutions, such as the discussion of George Johnson’s Miss Leavitt’s Stars at a planetarium, accompanied by an astronomy program. We promote the One Book program widely through print, radio, and the library’s web presence, while promoting meetings of The Periodic Roundtable to a core group of readers through e-mail and to targeted learning communities within the greater Kansas City area.

These book discussions fit into a cultural niche in the Kansas City community. Participants reacted favorably to the book discussions, and we developed a cadre of frequent attendees in addition to attracting audiences for selected works and topics. The library realized benefits for staff as well as patrons. More staff are reading science-related books for leisure than in the past, and more staff are actively involved in other programs of outreach to the community thanks to confidence gained through participation in book discussion groups.

Librarians found value in using readers’ advisory (RA) concepts developed for fiction works at public libraries as an aid in selection of works for book discussion groups. The concept of appeal has been current in the RA community since the publication of Saricks and Brown’s Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. Using non-appeal as an avenue toward finding books with better “discussability” for book groups has been studied by Taylor. We used appeal concepts to identify narrative nonfiction books that would enable active fiction readers to genre-hop and enjoy reading a non-fiction work on science, engineering, or technology. Practical experience revealed that some narrative non-fiction books suffer from being “complete,” limiting their usefulness as book discussion material. The use of RA concepts initially developed for fiction readers at public libraries has inspired and improved service offerings for non-fiction readers within our special library community.

Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. (1997) Readers’ advisory service in the public library (2nd ed.). Chicago: American Library Association.

Taylor, Joan Bessman. Good for what? Non-appeal, discussability, and book groups (Part 1). Reference & User Services Quarterly, 46 (4), 33-36.

Librarian in the Lobby – Connecting in Their Space

Lee A. Pedersen, Chemistry, Engineering, & Physics Librarian (lapedersen@brown.edu)
Brown University, Providence, RI

Abstract

Full Text: PDF Document

Slide Presentation:PDF Document

How does a science and engineering librarian, new to the job, meet, learn from, and conduct one-on-one coaching with her constituents in chemistry, engineering, and physics disciplines at Brown University?  This is the story of how a service was conceived, piloted, and developed to connect with the faculty, students, and staff of these disciplines where they teach, learn, and do research.  It places the librarian in a very public venue, the entrance lobby of sci-tech buildings with offices, labs, and classrooms.   Users who have gravitated away from visiting the Sciences Library have a librarian close at hand. The librarian at a table with two chairs, signage, and a wireless laptop is visible so that passers-by who have a sudden thought about an information need can have it satisfied by asking a question.  It is an opportunity for librarian-faculty interaction which leads to invitations to departmental activities, collaboration in conducting classes, sharing of information about each other’s work and background, and, most important, laying a foundation for future relationships.  Requests for resources can be discussed and students’ questions can be fielded.  Collateral from vendors can be displayed and marketed.  A bonus is promotion of the University and the Library to visitors and campus tour groups who use the lobby as a major stop.  This paper will talk about the challenges and rewards of setting up more than a reference desk in high traffic areas.  The challenges include the librarian’s willingness to capture the attention of a passing faculty member or a curious onlooker.  The rewards include being integrated into the curriculum of a course. The evolution from a pilot program in the engineering and physics building will be discussed.  A system of coding types of interactions has been used to track changes in the service since its implementation April 2005.  Data will be presented that demonstrate the growth in numbers of and depth of connections.   Librarian in the Lobby is a successful model for connecting with users in the Sci-Tech and Engineering disciplines.